Marcus Manchild Tells VIBE -- And The Nation -- How To Be Trill

It's always nice to see local artists making national headlines, especially when they haven't a) killed someone; or b) died. It's even nicer when that artist is someone with whom Rocks Off has worked in the past.

That's why when combing our social-media feeds, Rocks Off was pleasantly surprised to see quick-tongued Houston rapper Marcus Manchild, who wrote several blogs for us about his time on the "Smoker's Club" tour last fall, mentioned on VIBE's Web site this afternoon. Last we heard, Marcus was feeling a little under the weather and had been rousted from his hotel by the police, so we're glad he's doing better.

Today, Manchild was promoting his new single with Scarface and Yo Gotti, "U Ain't Trill." And he should know. Last week HipHopWired reported that Manchild is under consideration for XXL magazine's upcoming "Freshmen" cover.

Here are a few of Manchild's tips on how you, too, can be trill:

Taking your time is key. "Just slowing it down and then the soul," he says. "The smoking, the drinking, the swinging - just the whole Houston culture is lovely, so I wouldn't want to be from nowhere else.

Stand on the shoulders of giants. "It goes all the way from Scarface, to the Geto Boys, Yungstar, Scarface, Bun B, Pimp C, Chamillionaire, Slim Thug and Paul [Wall]," he says.

Come see for yourself. "Come see what the fuck it is about," Manchild says of the recent H-Town-biting trend personified by upcoming Warehouse Live visitor A$AP Rocky. "Come see what we're talking about and actually what this mean that you're talking about in your songs."